The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-10-07
RICE THROWING AT WEDDINGS.

Origin of the Custom as Given by the
Chinese-The Wise Sorceress.
In the days of the Shang dynasty, some
1900 years before Christ, there lived in the
province of Shansi a most famous sorcerer
called Chao. 1t happened one day that Mr..
Pang came to consult to oracle, and Chao,
having OWNED by means of the tortoise dia.
gram, informed the trembling P'ang that he
had but six days to live. Now, however
much we may trust the sagacity and skill of
our family physician, we may be excused il,
i'll matter of life and death, we call in q
second doctor for a consultation and in such
q strait it is not to be wondered at that P'anp
should repair to another source to make sure
there was no mistake. To the fair Peach
blossom he went, young lady who had ac-
qulred some reputation as a sorceress, and to
the tender feminine heart unfolded the story
OF his woe. Her divination yielded the same
as Chaos; i'll six days P'ang should die, un-
less, by the exercise Of her magical powers,
she could avert the catastrophe Her efforts
were successful, and on the seventh day great
was Chaos astonishment, and still greater his
mortlfcatlon and rage, when he met P'ang
taking his evening stroll and learned that
there ilVed n greater magician than ho The
story would soon get about and unless he
could quickly put an end to his fair rivals
existence his reputation would be ruined
And this was how Chao plotted against the
life of Peachblossom. He sent go-between
to Peachblossoms parents to inquire if their
daughter was still unmarried, and receiving
reply Ill the affirmative, he befooled the
simple parents into believing that he had
son who was seeking wife, and ultinlat sly he
induced them to engage Peachblossom to him
In marriage The marriage cards were duly
interchanged; but the crafty Chao had chosen
the most unlucky day he could select for the
wedding, the day when the Golden Pheas-
ant" was in the ascendant Surely as the
bride entered the red chair the spirit bird
would destroy her with his powerful beak.
But the wise Peachblossom knew all these
things, and feared not. II will CO." she said;
II will fight and defeat him" When the we'd
ding morning came, she gave directions to
have rice thrown out ut the door, which the
spirit bird seeing made haste to deyour. and
while his attention was thus occupied, Peach
blossom stepped into the bridal chair and
passed on her way unharmed. And now the
ingenious reader knows why he throws
rice after the bride. If any interest has been
engendered in his breast by this tale of the
fair Peachblossom, let him listen to what be-
fell her at the house of the magician. Arrived
at Chaos house, no bridegroom was there,
but an attendant was given her, and the two
girls prepared to pass the night in the room
assigned to them. Peachblossom was wake
full, for she knew that when the night passed,
the Golden Pheasant" would be succeeded by
the evil star of the "White Tiger" whose
power and ferocity who can tell! "Go you to
bed first" she said to the maid. The girl was
soon asleep, and still her mistress slept not,
but continued to pace the room, and at mid
night the tiger spirit came, and the morning
light showed Peachblossom still pacing the
room, while on the bed lay the hfeless body
OF the little maid. Thus were the magic bat
ties of Peachblossom and Chao, and many
more were there, until they took their flight
to heaven, where now they reign as gods.
And on earth the actors have not idols more
priced than those of Peachblossom and Chao
Kung-Chinese Times.